This from Janis Ian's Facebook page
"THIS PHOTO IS SARCASM. THERE. NOW YOU KNOW.
After all, the government "makes" us wear seat belts, right? The government "makes" us pay taxes. The government "makes" us wear clothes in public. It's not about your misinterpretation of "Constitutional rights. It's about responsibility to the community. A bad car accident doesn't only involve the driver; it involves dozens of other people, from hospital workers to physical therapists to families and on down the line. So does Covid-19. Wear the mask and stop wasting everyone's time."
In the 1950s, people boiled their sheets because it was the right thing to do to help stem the spread of polio. Then when a vaccine was developed, children lined up in the hall to receive a shot. Three years later, when an oral vaccine was developed, those same children lined up again to get that.
After a fire at the Lady of Angels School which killed 92 children and three nuns, federal regulations were enacted that govern escapes procedures and school construction. Nobody complained then or now about the need for safety.
We stop at red lights. We try not to drink and drive. We don't smoke in bars and restaurants. We go through all the malarkey at airports, including taking our shoes and belts off, walking through metal detectors. We do the same malarkey when we go to concerts and sporting events. We do that for the safety of ourselves, and others. We do it for community.
So, I cannot refute Ms. Ian's logic. It is indeed about being part of a community. I don't, however, see any protesters taking to the streets about any of the other things we are required and expected to do in our lives. It's not about perceived rights. It's more than being selfish or self-centered. It's deeper than opening up everything. It's deeper than "freedom."
The largest portions of victims are the elderly, minorities, and the poor. Many of those also had comorbidities.
Sad to say, but that is probably why the vast majority of the protesters demanding places to open are white. They don’t give a rat’s ass about the aged, blacks, hispanics, the poor, or the sick.
Never mind that it is those same minorities and low wage workers who prepare the food they eat in the fields and meat packing plants of the country. Never mind that they make the beds in hotels, clean the dishes and cook the meals in restaurants, and all the other menial labor in the country.
Never mind that the elderly are still vital parts of all our lives despite not being in the workforce. Never mind that the poor don't have good health care or insurance. Never mind that many of the largest portions of victims live in food deserts and don't have easy access to healthier foods or a healthier life style.
In essence, those people protesting against stay at home orders are saying the elderly are all used up. They are saying that the people doing menial labor and the poor are dispensable. They are saying that "those people" should take better care of their health.
Utah Phillips wrote a song about it.
We cannot prevent every single death for COVID or anything else. And, yes, people die from the flu, cancer, smoking, car accidents and gun shots.
They shouldn't, however, die from being forgotten, ignored, or used up.
Wear a damn mask and stay the hell away from each other.
After a fire at the Lady of Angels School which killed 92 children and three nuns, federal regulations were enacted that govern escapes procedures and school construction. Nobody complained then or now about the need for safety.
We stop at red lights. We try not to drink and drive. We don't smoke in bars and restaurants. We go through all the malarkey at airports, including taking our shoes and belts off, walking through metal detectors. We do the same malarkey when we go to concerts and sporting events. We do that for the safety of ourselves, and others. We do it for community.
So, I cannot refute Ms. Ian's logic. It is indeed about being part of a community. I don't, however, see any protesters taking to the streets about any of the other things we are required and expected to do in our lives. It's not about perceived rights. It's more than being selfish or self-centered. It's deeper than opening up everything. It's deeper than "freedom."
93,451 Americans have died because of the coronvirus.
Sad to say, but that is probably why the vast majority of the protesters demanding places to open are white. They don’t give a rat’s ass about the aged, blacks, hispanics, the poor, or the sick.
Never mind that it is those same minorities and low wage workers who prepare the food they eat in the fields and meat packing plants of the country. Never mind that they make the beds in hotels, clean the dishes and cook the meals in restaurants, and all the other menial labor in the country.
Never mind that the elderly are still vital parts of all our lives despite not being in the workforce. Never mind that the poor don't have good health care or insurance. Never mind that many of the largest portions of victims live in food deserts and don't have easy access to healthier foods or a healthier life style.
In essence, those people protesting against stay at home orders are saying the elderly are all used up. They are saying that the people doing menial labor and the poor are dispensable. They are saying that "those people" should take better care of their health.
Utah Phillips wrote a song about it.
We cannot prevent every single death for COVID or anything else. And, yes, people die from the flu, cancer, smoking, car accidents and gun shots.
They shouldn't, however, die from being forgotten, ignored, or used up.
Wear a damn mask and stay the hell away from each other.
